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« Roush Dispatch
Thursday Night Delights
Justin Chambers and Elizabeth Reaser by Ron Tom/ABC
How great did it feel to have Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy back on with new episodes this week? Such a scrumptious double feature of feel-good TV. I’m especially keen on Betty these days, this colorful and vibrantly funny new geek on the block. As others have said, it’s the perfect appetizer to the main course of Grey’s, with its usually irresistible blend of suds, scrubs and heartache.
Best move both shows made this week: Ditching subplots that were going nowhere. On Betty, that meant saying goodbye to Ignacio’s case worker (who really wasn’t), the crazily smitten Constance (Octavia Spencer). On Grey’s, that meant saying goodbye to the arrogant Dr. Marlow, played by a miscast Roger Rees, a fine actor who came off more like a creepy Dracula than an intimidating Dr. McBrilliant. Of all the misbegotten love matches we’ve been forced to consider on this show, asking us to believe Cristina ever had a thing for this ghoul was almost as ewww-inspiring as Bradford Meade’s foot fetish over on Betty.
Am I crazy to want to see an entire episode of Betty constructed around Amanda?
Best parts of Grey’s: the Izzie-Bailey and Izzie-George scenes, and Alex’s emotional seesaw where Jane Doe/not-really-Shannon is concerned. Elizabeth Reaser should be a front-runner for the guest-actress Emmy this year for the way she conveys so many mood swings from her hospital bed: the raw need for some sense of identity, her dependence on Alex and her rejection of him when her heart is broken yet again. This has been my favorite storyline of the season. Bringing Chandra Wilson back to the forefront was also a joy to behold. Not just in the scenes where Bailey held Izzie’s hand through her personal crisis, but in the climactic scene in which she tried to give McDreamy a reality check as he weighed his ambition to be Chief over his relationship with Meredith. “All of this means nothing if you’re alone.” That could pretty much be the motto of Grey’s Anatomy, come to think of it.
Also very good Thursday night:
30 Rock, as usual, especially as Tracy ran in fear of the “Black Crusaders” cabal, led by Dr. Bill Cosby. (Please, please, let this man have enough of a sense of humor about himself to consent to a cameo next season.)
Supernatural, with a hilarious parody of Hollywood and horror movies, as Dean (a true aficionado of B-movies and craft services, and “one hell of a P.A.”) and Sam investigate mayhem on a haunted soundstage. A great gag aboard a studio-tour tram as Jared Padalecki reacts in alarm to news that they’re approaching the Stars Hollow set of Gilmore Girls. Also loved his in-joke gripe that the L.A. weather was “practically Canadian.” Inspired guest stars: Gary Cole and Don Stark (Donna’s dad from That ’70s Show) as demon bait. Hilarious McG jokes (he’s an executive producer). All in all, a great hour. Why again am I not watching this show? Oh, I know. It’s on Thursdays! (I saw this courtesy of an advance screener from Warner Bros TV.)
Even Survivor was strong, with all kinds of twists revolving around who had the hidden idol and who was going to use it. The hilarious Dreamz stole the show, leaking information to both sides though somehow still falling out of the loop when it came to the ultimate vote. I love that when the idol was used for the first time in Survivor history, the opposing alliance was already one step ahead of the game and it came to naught. I still don’t much care who’s in or out—it’s looking more and more like Yau-Man is the one to beat—but for at least this week, Survivor was a wild ride.
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Apr 20, 2007 3:02 PM
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Am I crazy to want to see an entire episode of Betty constructed around Amanda?
Not at all, Matt. I would love to see an episode like that. (And I'd love to see the return of "Ugly Ruthie" too.)
Special thanks for the Supernatural review, Matt. If this show wasn't on in the toughest timeslot of the week, I'm convinced it would be huge.
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Apr 20, 2007 3:29 PM
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Thanks for mentioning Supernatural! What a delightful episode that was from start to finish!
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Apr 20, 2007 3:53 PM
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Matt - Thursdays are just too full of good TV, aren't they? I haven't watched Betty yet because I always watch NBC, tape Supernatural to watch after the comedy block and then catch Ugly Betty online. I wish we could spread out this joy.
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Apr 20, 2007 4:08 PM
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Thursday nights are impossible!! I TiVo Ugly Betty and NBC 8-9, then CSI and NBC 9-10, and I watch Survivor and Grey's Anatomy in the basement. It's an almost impossible schedule, and I regret that there's no room for Supernatural. I miss that show since the move to Thursday nights!
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Apr 20, 2007 4:39 PM
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I know it is not ideal, but rather then missing shows you like, don't you think watching them online for free is a much better option?
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Apr 20, 2007 5:20 PM
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Hey Matt - Thanks for giving Supernatural a try. You are so right about Thursday nights. They are cruel, very cruel. I run around the house like a crazy woman setting and re-setting VCR's to catch Smallville, Survivor, The Office, and of course SN. I had to give up on CSI but plan to catch it over the summer, and Ugly Betty too.
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Apr 20, 2007 6:13 PM
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Hi Matt! A very, very big THANK YOU (hugs included) for mentioning Supernatural. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you keep tuning in & that you can get caught up on this season over the summer!
Thanks again!
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Apr 20, 2007 8:53 PM
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I'll second all the thanks for the Supernatural shout-out. I love that show. I laughed all the way through this week's episode.
Fair warning, Matt ... the next episodes are supposed to be incredibly climatic (and not in the trailer is rockin' kind of way). If you can squeeze it in, tune into Superatural again. I know it's a tough night. Grey's Anatomy and Supernatural are must-see TV for me. I can't imagine how frustrated I'd be if I had to try to schedule around something else ... and that's your job!
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Apr 20, 2007 10:05 PM
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Matt - Thanks so much for the shout out to Supernatural. Like you said, great show in an unfortunately full time slot and evening! Hope you can get caught up over the summer...rumor has it that the CW will be playing Supernatural re-runs on both Sundays and Thursdays!
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Apr 21, 2007 12:48 AM
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Matt- Thanks for giving Supernatural a try. I just love the variety that this show can produce. At first I was apprehensive about Supernatural tackling another comic episode, seeing as it does myth arcs so well. I must say that the Hollywood Babylon spoof on the industry itself was just pure good light-hearted fun entertainment. I hope you give Supernatural another shot in the future
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Apr 21, 2007 10:04 AM
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I gotta throw out another "Thank you!" for mentioning the fantastic Supernatural. It's a hard lot being squeezed in on Thursday nights. The next four episodes promise to be blockbuster. If you can grab some more advance screeners, I couldn't reccomend them higher.
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Apr 21, 2007 11:36 AM
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There's an easy solution to your Thursday night problem, Mr. Roush. Watch McDreamy online for free (or on a Friday night repeat) and put Supernatural into your lineup for good. You won't regret it. It's a real meat and potatoes show for men. Real gore that the boys are guaranteed to love.
Otherwise, thank you for the Supernatural shoutout. Dean and Sam are the best brothers on television, bar none, Prison Break included. They're the best kept secret on television. If you have a brother, you will relate--ghosts and zombies or not. When the show veers into serious terrain, Dean's the big brother you wish you had or you hope that you were. When it's comedic, he puts his little brother in his place by putting itching powder in his shorts. Ahhhh, memories. :D
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Apr 21, 2007 12:01 PM
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Matt, thank you so much for the kind shout out to Supernatural. Hollywood Babylon was pretty clever. 
I realize that your Thursdays are busy, but it's possible to sneak in Supernatural seeing as its episodes are streamed free on the CW website by the next evening or, as mentioned, you could put Grey's on your tivo list.  Though it's never been my cup of tea, I understand that you like it. However, my point is that it's possible to work around the Thursday night glut if a person is determined. The depth of the Winchesters' filial relationship will catch you off guard. Padalecki and Ackles really bring it. They act like men really act, not how women think men act. It's refreshing, with cultural references and sentiment that even an old fogey over 30 like me can appreciate. Classic rock soundtrack and demons with a blue collar sensibility that's appealing.
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Apr 21, 2007 12:19 PM
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Thanks for the shout out to the amazing show Supernatual. That's why they invented the vcr so you can watch Supernatural and tape Grey's. I hope you get a chance to catch up on Supernatural over the summer. It's been an amazing season.
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Apr 21, 2007 4:22 PM
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